Extension-foot.



EXTENSION FOOT.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1899.)

J. H. PHILBROOK.

(N0 Model w/ii/u c f/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. PI-IILBROOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-FOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,714, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed April 8, 1899. Serial No. 712,268. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. PHILBRooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Extension-Feet, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an extension-foot, my object being to provide an improved form of foot-rest therefor which can be readily adapted to fit the foot of the wearer and which will constitute an elastic and resilient footrest, facilitating the movement of the wearer and obviating the difficulty heretofore experienced from shocks and jars during walking.

In accordance with my invention I provide a bottom-piece or foot of rubber or similar elastic and resilient material which extends throughout the length of the foot-rest along the bottom thereof, the forward end projecting to constitute the elastic toe. The elastic foot or bottom piece, as above described, is mounted upon the under face of a block which forms the filler of the foot, serving to impart thereto the desired height, the face of said block being formed to fit the sole of the foot of the wearer and carrying upon its face a foot-plate formed, preferably, of fiber or similar material, which is bent into the desired shape to accommodate the foot and which is secured to the face of the block, the forward end of the foot-plate being usually extended beyond the filler to form a flexible end adapted to rest against the upper face of the elastic foot-piece and yieldingly resist the bending of the toe thereof. The leather constituting the upper of the foot is secured between the block or filler and the foot-plate and also passes around the toe of the shoe to complete the structure. The block or filler and the rear portion of the elastic foot-piece are covered with leather, so that the whole exterior of the extension-foot is covered.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the extension-foot of my invention, the outer shoe, within which the extension-foot is adapted to be placed, be-

ing illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detailed View showing the foot-rest in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The extension-foot is composed of a wooden block or filler a, to the base of which is fas tened, by means of the screws a a, a footpiece b, composed of rubber or other resilient substance and extending out beyond the filler to form the resilient toe.

' A foot-plate a, made, preferably, of fiber, vulcanized rubber, or other material that can be readily steamed and bent into shape, is bent to the form of the upper portion of the filler a and attached thereto bymeans of the screws 0 c c. The forward end of the footplate 0 extends beyond the filler to form a flexible extension which rests against the top of the footpiece I) to yieldingly resist the bending thereof. By this arrangement the extreme too is resilient, due to the rubber alone, while in the vicinity of the ball of the foot-piece the flexible extension, as well as the rubber, opposes the bending. The resilient toe, therefore, instead of bending at one point, bends gradually and uniformly throughout the length thereof, whereby the action of the human foot is simulated.

The legging or upper leather portion (1 of the foot extends downward, covering the toe, the ends thereof being securely fastened between the block a and the foot-plate 0. Between the filler Ct and the foot-plate c a layer of leather cl is placed, the edges of the upper being inserted between the filler and the layer of leather, after which the foot-plate is placed in position and nailed or otherwise secured to the filler. The filler and the rear portion of the foot-piece are covered with leather, so that the whole of the extension-foot is covered. The ordinary shoe e is placed over the extension-foot, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an extension-foot, the combination with a block or filler of wood or similar material, of a foot-piece of rubber, or like elastic and resilient material, secured to the lower having the forward end extended beyond the filler to form a flexible extension adapted to rest upon the foot-piece, substantially as described.

2. In an extension -foot, the combination with a block or filler of Wood, or similar material, of a foot-piece of rubber, or like elastic or resilient material, secured to the lower face of said block or filler and having the forward end extending beyond the filler to form a resilient toe, the upper face of said filler being shaped to conform to the foot of the wearer, a foot-plate of fiber, or like material, conforming to the face of the filler, and secured thereto, and the legging or upper leather portion having the edges thereof secured between the filler and the foot-plate, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. PHILBROOK.

Witnesses:

W. CLYDE J ONES, M. R. ROCHFORD. 

